From a series dedicated to the understanding of tropical diseases, this volume examines the basic biology and clinical expression of lymphatic-dwelling filarial parasites, parasites affecting over 90 million people in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Although it is responsible for the disfiguring elephantiasis, infection with this parasite leads to a spectrum of clinical manifestations. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of infection, its epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these often devastating vector-borne diseases are the focus of this book.